Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck Wimpy Kid #8 by Jeff Kinney Funny Illustrated Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Greg Heffley’s best friend, Rowley, has a girlfriend (Abigail), with whom he is spending all of his time, and Greg desperately needs to make some new friends. The prospects are pretty bleak, though, and Greg is hoping that the happy couple breaks up before it’s too late and he becomes some … Read more
The Garden of My Imaan By Farhana Zia Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction / Grades 4-7 * * * * Stars (Great!) Aliyah, fifth grader, is having a difficult year. She’s got two big projects to complete – one for elementary school on the topic “Respecting Ourselves and Others,” and another for religious school on self-improvement. Her biggest problem is that she’s still figuring out and getting comfortable with who she is – particularly as a … Read more
The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood Illustrated by Renata Liwska Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) Experience these carefully selected, quiet moments of Christmas through, “The Christmas Quiet Book.” There are all kinds of quiet: Hoping for a snow day quiet, Knocking with mittens quiet, Shattered ornament quiet, Listening for sleigh bells quiet, and more. Readers of all ages will enjoy the memories, feelings, and emotions they evoke. Sometimes, when a picture … Read more
The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz illustrated by Dan Santat Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) This book gets points for being an excellent (and funny) story that actually uses rhyme to good effect (unlike a lot of the picture books I’ve been reading lately). A retelling of the Three Little Pigs, these 3 pigs decide to go on the offensive and prepare themselves for a wolf attack by taking classes … Read more
The Terrible Plop by Ursula Dubosarsky Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) A group of bunnies is picnicking by a lake when they hear the most terrible plop. They flee from the noise and are joined by every other animal they encounter as they try to get as far away from the plop as possible. When the animals nearly trample a bear, however, he grabs the tiniest bunny – the one who can’t … Read more
The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum by Kate Bernheimer and Nicoletta Ceccoli Picture book The Girl in the Castle inside the Museum is an interesting piece of writing for the young reader. It is certainly a concept that will stir the imagination. In the book there is a museum and in the museum there is a globe which houses a castle in which a little girl lives. If one looks really hard the … Read more
Also Known As by Robin Benway Mystery Realistic Fiction Romance Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) Maggie Silver’s parents are spies working for the Collective – an organization devoted to ferreting out bad guys and righting the wrongs of the world. Maggie herself, is an expert safe-cracker and lock-picker. After her family finishes up an assignment in Iceland, they move back to New York where Maggie is given her first undercover job. Disguising … Read more
Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whelan Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Rosalind is English, but she has been raised in India her whole life. Years ago, her brother Edward was sent back to England to receive his schooling, but he became ill and passed away. Their parents – especially their mother – have never truly gotten over his death. As a result, Rosalind’s mother has kept her close … Read more
Will & Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Wilhelmina (Will) has been living with her Aunt Elsie (Ella) since her parents died last year. They live in Will’s grandparents’ house (they are also deceased) and will helps Ella run the family Antique shop, which is next door. Will finds distraction and relief from the loss of her parents through the creation of lamps – her grandpa … Read more
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Lily’s brother decides she needs a boyfriend, so he leaves a mysterious red Moleskine notebook among the used books at Strand’s (bookstore) for someone worthy to find. That someone is Dash (Dashiell), who is Lily’s age, loves the OED (Oxford English Dictionary), and has the most swoon-worthy musings. After leading him on a scavenger hunt … Read more